Well, it doesn't seem to be assisted by the Raelians so much as one Raelian. Kind of like one Christian might set up a soup kitchen while others choose to scream at frightened, pregnant women. That said, fuck that it's a weird UFO cult, this is a profoundly decent thing to do for one's fellow human beings.

The US President needs this over with, now. My guess is he'll do some bombing over the weekend and order a stand down afterword. If Russia is smart, they'll leave it at that with no escalation. No one wins in a regional conflict.

They have been itching at the chance to get involved in this, mainly to align the country to the western will and the gradual move on Iran. 'The regimes use of chemical weapons is unquestionable.' Hyperbole much, Questioning is the one thing you should be doing, especially when statements are framed in such a way.

This kind of shit just depresses me. This constant mountain of bullshit, in an attempt to make the western electorate acquiesce to imposing will by force on a foreign population, we saw it in Iraq, Libya, now Syria, and next I guarantee you we will see it in Iran. This is terrorism, and we are not the ones fighting it.

@JohnJones - True enough, which was rather the point, I thought: that however bizarre Ms Gary's beliefs, they have directly inspired and informed her in doing unarguably great work. If this isn't a profound illustration of the benefits of religious tolerance then I've never seen one.

I'm actually kind of hoping that government spy steps in to let us know how prisons go about that kind of thing. I realize that military prison is different from civilian prison, but still.

@Oldhat I was about to write extensively about PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) and how that affects transgendered inmates, but The Atlantic Wire has pretty much summed up in much simpler terms what I would have said; basically that unless Manning had begun any type of drug or hormone treatment previous to his incerceration, no governmental agency is under any kind of requirement to provide treatment or therapy.

Although transgender prisoners in civilian facilities often receive hormone therapy — the official Bureau of Prisons policy is to administer treatments to those who have received therapy before incarceration — Manning's request for hormone therapy while in Fort Leavenworth will likely be denied.

Bureau of Prisons policy also includes that transgendered inmates are to be treated as the gender of whichever gender's genetalia they currently possess. I'm trying to be as blunt and medically & legally correct here, so forgive any language or politcally incorrectness, or insensitivity to any transgendered people; it's not intentional. For example, if an inmate almost completely resembles a female, including breasts, but still retains their penis, they will be treated as a male inmate. And the reverse, for an inmate who looks male, but still retains a vagina, they will be housed and treated as a female. Sometimes they will be segregated from general population, and possibly housed either in cell restriction by themselves, or maybe even one cellmate, but the PREA has certain limitations, as transgendered inmates may not be segregated soley because they are transgendered.

In my opinion, Manning will most likely receive no special treatment, as far as being transgendered, other than Manning may receive extra psychological supervision, but will continue to be treated as male. Because Manning is high profile, Manning may be segregated from GP, or to protect him/her from violence or retaliation.

@ Doc Oc,I understand that Misters Hague and Cameron will not be acting on a humanitarian impulse, but I think that non-intervention in one of the worst humanitarian disasters if the 21st century isn't really an option either. Now I know that there are similar conflicts in places like CAR, but limelight does not reduce tragedy. I'm yet to see a credible alternative to direct action.

I'm still very skeptical about non-covert action against Iran. It would be a logistical nightmare, an incredible geopolitical can of ALL THE WORMS, and it would be pretty certain to turn a vast majority of the populace (even among the otherwise pro-democracy -- if you forgive the shorthand -- people) against the attacking countries.

Of course if some of our dear leaders are feeling particularly up for a game of brinksmanship, it's a different call. But at the moment I don't really see it in the books.

("Hmm. I wonder if I should start a ground invasion of Russia in the wintertime, or maybe just attack the Persian empire. Tough call!")

@ScrymgeorI will have to deconstruct your post a little. First you state that they will not be acting on humanitarian principles, then you imply that not doing so, in relation to what you describe as one of the worst humanitarian disasters, is not an option, well what option is left? My question is what would be the result in acting in a non-humanitarian manner towards 'one of the worst humanitarian disasters' actually be? Do you think that will make it better or will it result in another Iraq.

In Africa our exploitation of their resources is unchallenged, as soon at the populations enact sovereignty over their own resources, they will be treated in the same manner as the middle east.

If you want to live in a world with less war and terrorism you need to stop participating in it.

Any more discussion on these events may warrant it's own thread, I would be happy to contribute.

Angry that your parents would think that this was good enough, angry that your parents didn't make more money. And then you looked at their beaming faces, the meticulous sanding and finish on the console, the cake with the little baseball and bat drawn with frosting, the ropes with the colorful triangular pennants draping across the yard ... it melted into this feeling of unyielding love, of pity. Little you, ten years old, in the bathroom, crying for reasons that made you feel like a grown-up.

It is unclear whether your parents knew you were crying. "You um ... you wanna play a game, kiddo?" You said yes, you did, and your mom inserted Return of the Spaceship 2.